Students from around the world arrived at West Virginia University this week in anticipation of the start of the fall semester. As part of the incoming class, the School of Dentistry welcomed 24 new students into its Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program.
The Class of 2028 includes students from seven states and seven West Virginia counties, and seven members of the class are first-generation college students.
To welcome the students to WVU, the school hosted its orientation activities in the Morgantown community. Part of the university-wide Welcome Week, the Academic Day session for new students was combined with a picnic for all dental hygiene students held at St. Mary’s Pavilion in Star City. The event was an opportunity to learn about policies, expectations and resources as well as connect with faculty, staff and fellow classmates. Students also participated in relationship building exercises and wellness activities in addition to sharing foods and stories unique to their personal backgrounds.
Over the next four-years, students will prepare for their career through lectures, simulation lab experiences, innovation center training and direct patient care.
West Virginia’s only dental school, the WVU School of Dentistry is training future practitioners to help meet the needs of the state, which experiencing a shortage of dental professionals. The school’s mission is to improve oral health by transforming students into clinically excellent, service-oriented practitioners, to provide exceptional patient care, and to discover solutions that reduce oral health disparities in the state.
The Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Class of 2028 includes:
- Giavanna Amoroso of Uniontown, Pennsylvania
- Kenzie Bigger of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
- Linsey Boone of Ronceverte, West Virginia
- Madison Brandt of Erie, Pennsylvania
- Megan Bunting of Midlothian, Virginia
- Abigail Cvechko of Bridgeport, West Virginia
- Kylie DeSalle of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Makayla Dion of Gloucester, Massachusetts
- Acey Gast of Wheeling, West Virginia
- Mea Giovannone of Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
- Camryn Johnson of Schenectady, New York
- Mary Kalkowski of Mars, Pennsylvania
- Addison King of Parkersburg, West Virginia
- Andrew Landsberger of Falling Waters, West Virginia
- Emily LaPlante of Newtown, Pennsylvania
- Audrey McCord of Wheeling, West Virginia
- Shannon McDonagh of Kings Park, New York
- Kaylee Menjivar of Erie, Pennsylvania
- Sierra Menendez of Shinnston, West Virginia
- Myra Mitchell of Sugar Grove, West Virginia
- Isabella Pasquale of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Darsey Pittman of Reader, West Virginia
- Celia Schifferer of Batavia, Illinois
- Natalie Zimmerman of Waynesboro, Virginia